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Some Familiar Rule Variations in Blackjack

There are other rules in blackjack besides the standard rules of play. Some of these rules refer to how the dealer plays his hands while others are variations of the standard rules. These rule variations will definitely have an effect on a player's basic strategy. They will also have an effect on the odds in blackjack. Rule variations will differ from casino to casino and at times from table to table.

One rule variation in blackjack has to do with how the dealer plays a soft 17. The dealer will hit on soft 17 in some casinos and in others dealers will stand. When you see an S17 game, this simply means that the dealer will stand whenever his hand totals to 17 regardless of whether it is a hard hand or a soft hand. Other casinos will have an H17 game wherein the dealer hits on a soft 17 and stands on a hard 17. The latter rule variation (i.e. H17 game) is less favorable to players.

Another variation you will find is the number of decks used in a blackjack table. Generally speaking, if there are fewer decks used in blackjack the better are the conditions for the players. This is especially true for the players who use basic strategy even if they don't know how to count cards. One precaution is to beware single deck blackjack games that pays blackjacks at six to five. The six to five payment rule variation will add 1.39% in the house edge.

The surrender rule variation will help players a lot when it is allowed at a blackjack table. The surrender rule will allow players to give up their hand and lose only half of their wager. This rule also has further variations - later surrender and early surrender. In early surrender, players are allowed to surrender before the dealer checks for a blackjack. Late surrender, as you might have guessed, allows players to surrender after the dealer checks for a blackjack.

Resplits are rule variations modifying or extending spitting pairs. Resplits may be allowed after you split your hand. The typical rule variation in blackjack is being able to resplit up to four hands. Another related rule is that players are not allowed to resplit Aces. But this doesn't mean that there are no casinos that allow a resplit of aces. Yet another related rule variation is a double after a split, which allows you to double down after splitting your hand.

Rule variations that are quite fair for players are double after split, double down on any hand, resplits, surrender, and dealer stands on soft 17. Rule variations are either good or bad for blackjack players. Players should know which blackjack rule variations help their chances of winning and which ones do not.